Day: August 5, 2015

Rational thinking is important, especially for emotionally charged issues, and the abortion debate is certainly emotionally charged. Pro-life people see an unborn fetus just as deserving of protection as a grown adult. Most of them use soul-talk to support their views.( Although, there are other more philosophically sophisticated arguments they could use.) Pro-choice people, however, do not see an unborn fetus as a life, at least in the sense of being the same as an adult or a child. Due to this, pro-choice people see abortion as a women’s rights issue. So, as anyone can see, these groups could not be further apart. When they argue, they might as well be speaking two different languages, and outrage ensues. All of this, makes rational thinking all the more important; because, the outrage is clouding everyone’s thinking.

Now that the Planned Parenthood videos have been leaked to the media, the outrage is all over the media, but let’s remain objective and rational. Yes, fetal tissue is being used in research, and perhaps, planned parenthood really is selling body parts. However, using fetal tissue in research and the rightness or wrongness of profiting from body parts are separate issues. I submit to you that no matter what one’s position is with regards to abortion these fetuses (or babies) are already dead. Why not allow them to benefit research for illnesses? There, surely, is an ick factor anytime some discusses using body parts in research, but it is no different than allowing one’s body to be used for science or organ donation after death. Even for those who are strictly pro-life, there is no bringing these fetus back into existence, and those of us who are alive could greatly benefit from this research.

Meanwhile, it will be interesting to see if the various investigations reveal that Planned Parenthood is actually selling body parts. If they are, that’s illegal. Still, we need to look at whether it is right or wrong for adults to sell their body parts first. Some people think people should be allowed to sell their body parts. I, think, the idea is that there would be more body parts available, which would be good for sick people, but then again, I would worry the free market would take over. Then, only rich could afford organs. So, I’m undecided. You tell me.